Answering God's Urgent Call Together: On Campus

With young adults back to school in full force, the six Episcopal college and university ministries in this diocese seek to reach out to them in an array of ways.  Whether it is an evening service that provides a space in which to breathe out the angst of the day and breathe in God's peace, a home-cooked meal and conversation around a parish hall table, or forums for asking questions about ethical decision making and vocational discernment, campus ministries are in a position to be all about the inviting, forming, sending, serving kind of ministry that is at the heart of mission strategy in the Diocese of Massachusetts.  What does it mean to answer God's urgent call together on campus?  Three chaplains offer their insights here. 
The Rev. Luther Zeigler
The Rev. Luther Zeigler, Chaplain at Harvard:  "At Harvard, I am blessed to be doing ministry alongside of students who are astoundingly thoughtful, creative, curious, energetic, talented and socially engaged.  Eager to reflect theologically on their experience of the world, they are open to both traditional and emergent forms of the spiritual life. Together we mine the riches of our Episcopal tradition, while we also seek out conversations and collaborative opportunities for ministry with others from within the incredibly diverse range of faith traditions represented on our campus."

The Rev. Cameron Partridge The Rev. Cameron Partridge, Chaplain at Boston University:  "Like many emerging forms of church, and as a key form of young adult ministry, campus ministry is flexible, adapted to the rapidly shifting, intensely formative, transitional contexts of colleges and universities.  We explore fundamental questions from 'how do I want my life to be shaped' to 'how can I find a job after graduation' to 'what can I do to make a real difference in this world' to 'where is God in a time of tragedy and loss?'  Campus ministry is both exhausting and a blast."

The Rev. Janie Donohue The Rev. Janie Donohue, Chaplain at MIT: "Every once in a while, when discussing the mission of the diocese, I catch myself referring to all students as 'them,' forgetting momentarily those bivocational saints among us who are exercising their spiritual gifts in academic contexts.  These student ministers are, of course, not 'them' but 'us' and we are the body of Christ, incapable of discerning God’s mission in this diocese apart from the gifts, gaps and wisdom of every disciple and context.  This semester I invite you to join me in renewing my commitment to remember who we are." 

Use these links to check out and get connected with the specific programs and activities of Episcopal campus ministries at Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, MIT and its Technology and Culture Forum, Northeastern and Tufts, or see the Campus Ministry page at www.diomass.org.